The Writer's Manifesto

by Jeff Goins

Do writers write to get published, or do they write for the love of writing?

The Writer's Manifesto is a small eBook about getting back to the heart of writing, intentionally written to be read in one sitting. It's a call-to-arms for artists and authors alike to kick the addiction to accolades and write for the sake of writing.

This succinct manifesto is a challenge to fall back in love with your passion, giving you permission and freedom to create not for the applause, but for a higher calling.

The Writer's Manifesto will leave you feeling confident and affirmed not because of what you've done, but because of who you are--a writer .

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help, Christian Non Fiction

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2011

About the author

Jeff Goins is a writer, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur with a reputation for challenging the status quo. He is the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, Time, and many others. Through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of creatives succeed every year. A father of two and a guacamole aficionado, Jeff lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

Reviews

[M.J. Kobernus · Rating 1 out of 5]

This made me squirm. And cringe. And wonder, in spite of the fact that it was insanely short, when would it end?

A whole bunch of platitudes and rehashed adages on the craft of writing. I did agree with some of the little snippets of wisdom in this so called 'manifesto,' but politics and the English language it ain't.

Goins is a master marketer, and I suppose I am a little angry that I was so easily duped into buying into his marketing tricks that I actually signed up for a newsletter, just so I could read this manifesto. Save yourself the bother. Here are the main points.

Writing is good. We do it because we have to. Don't worry about what other people think. Follow your bliss.

It angers me that he calls it a book. It is barely a slideshow. If it were written for toddlers, it might qualify as a book.

But if you have read this review, then you know what it is about. Save yourself the trouble and future spam in your inbox.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tiny book, but full of practical and affirmative statements for the writer. We write because we are writers. We write, not for fame and glory, while that is sometimes the by-product, it is not the real reason for most of us. I intend to re-read this short little gem from time to time to remind me just why it is that I do what I do.

[Andrew Barlow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and sweet. He argues that a writer should not be motivated by accolades or a desire to be heard, but simply by a love of the craft. In fact, he argues that to write for any reason other than the love of the craft is to corrupt the craft. The paradox is that, as one is freed from a focus on the affections of others, he will actually write things that affect others. My take: to suggest that one ought not be motivated by a desire to be read and liked and admired is nonsense. And in fact, isn't this God's own motive in creation? He didn't just create for the love of creating. He created precisesly to be displayed as glorious and wise and good, etc. Does this mean that the creative process was tainted by God's motives? I think not. Creation was a means. But there was a much greater end. Goins' assertion is something akin to saying it's not about the destination but about the journey. What if it's about both? And what if the destination is more ultimate than the journey? Having said all this, I really like to read Jeff Goins. I think he's cool, and I'm really happy for all his success.

[Mark Polino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply brilliant. Exactly what I needed.

[Dana J. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short. More like a poem. But I liked it. Message in a nutshell: Write for the love of writing, not for approval or money or fame.

[Sarah Rhea Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and powerful book that reminds you why you started writing in the first place. Snag a free copy from Jeff Goins' website, goinswriter.com. And remember: You are not alone.

[Venky Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Goins' The Writer's Manifesto prises out the one absolute truth all authors bury deep within themselves,consciously or unconsciously. WRITE JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO. Write because you want to produce, not profit.

Yet, how many authors actually follow that philosophy nowadays, especially in a world where material accumulation is the be all and end all of all enterprise? I am not very sanguine.

A must read, especially for those rare authors who write because their soul is in it.

[A.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically a slideshow encouraging people to stick with their writing and do it through a community that Jeff Goins runs.
This is an oldie from 2011 and he has remade that community into something called Tribe Writers.
[I’m cleaning up my pdf book file. I always forget I have them…]
2 stars

[Danielle Bernock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short read. Great advice.

[John Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

Inspiring words for those looking to create words that inspire. Simple, direct and honest advice for any writer and writer to be.

[Anum Ammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The inspiration which we all need. 💕

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not really a manifesto. It's more a brief reminder for people who really want to write, to create that they need to write without thought of whether someone will read it.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered Jeff Goins by way of twitter. I'm always a fan of work on writing. Add to that the snappy title, and I snapped this up on Amazon. It's a short read. By necessity. It's the barebones call to writing that underlies all writing manuals, from Blaine Hogan to Steven Pressfield.

It's a good manifesto, if a barebones message is what you need to sit down with a page and just write. I liked it. It jives with my particular no-nonsense attitude towards writing. That the page will reward you with its words.


But I see this manifesto as being supplemental. For each writer, there are other issues which complicate the big picture. Some are avoidant. Some are time-challenged. Some are jumpy. Some can't commit. For the variety of ills, there are a variety of other writing manifestos out there. I would recommend "The Writer's Manifesto" to other writers, but I would recommend it as a companion to other writing books that address particular issues that a writer wants to work on.

The Writer's Manifesto is also for writers who have hammered out the finicky details, and just need a little push to get over the edge. This is the kind of Manifesto that I will revisit when my path has become murky.

[Francene Carroll]

I like Jeff Goin's message and I will re-read this to give me inspiration when I'm feeling down about my writing or overwhelmed with distractions. I'm not going to rate it as a book because it's more like a blog post, but I do think it's a very smart marketing idea to get some attention - ironic, considering the books's subject matter (I don't mean this in a snarky way). I think it's a timely reminder for writers to get back to what is important and not put so much energy into social networking which can really kill creativity. I got a copy of The Writer's Manifesto for free when I signed up for Jeff's newsletter.

[Valentin Eni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dacă aş fi niţeluş mai cinic poate aş spune că îmi aminteşte de fabula cu vulpea şi strugurii. Adică dacă tot nu avem succes, vînzări, contracte, feedback de la cititori atunci trebuie să ne sugerăm că nu de ele avem nevoie, nu pentru astea trebuie să scriem! Noi, scriitorii, scriem deaceea că ne place mult să scriem, că NU PUTEM SĂ NU SCRIEM. Un fel de manifest al scriitorilor aspiranţi.

Oricum, manifestul e scris bine şi chiar începi să simţi un fel de motivaţie de a te apuca imediat de scris. Şi parcă nici nu mai vrei aşa tare "să vrei să ai succes" :)

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short e-book free from Jeff Goins's website. He argues that writers should not write for the sake of getting published or winning accolades. Rather the motivation for writing should be our compulsion to write--for self expression, pure enjoyment, or simply because we have something worth saying.

Goins contends that the best (and most impactful) works of art happen when we aren't chasing success but are freed up to create for art's sake. Well maybe, the art-for-art's sake movement has also created its share of bad art. Still I do find Goins's call to arms inspiring.

[Corianne Oosterbaan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it a nice quick read. The manifesto has some sentences here and there that made me think about some of my own habits. Apart from that, there is nothing amazingly illuminating about. It's well-written but lacking that little bit extra juice in content to stand out. It did inspire me to start my own manifesto - which is why I would give it 2,5 stars (if that were possible).

[Tiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This maybe took me three minutes to read. But I paid a dollar for it so I'm counting it. I'm not sure if I really even feel like this motivated me but I didn't go in with any expectations so I won't complain.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING! THIS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR WRITING FUTURE. This an honest look at what it takes to become a great writer and enjoy doing it. It will be hard to swallow at first, but oh so rewarding after.

[Rick Jantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book, thanks Jeff. I've been working on a legacy type of manifesto. At 56 I'm doing a lot of looking back and reflecting and then looking forward to set my course for my remaining years and to add value. Primarily, did I love enough.

[Radeyah H. Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little ebook is just the right thing any author needs to be reminded about why we write. It is not to be praised by others, but it is to release our thoughts and ideas from inside us. No praise or commendation could ever surpass that need.

Great ebook! Very inspirational.

[رفعت خالد · Rating 4 out of 5]

هذا ما كنت أبحث عنه بالضبط.. وهو نصائح لتكتب لنفسك قبل كل شيء وتتجاهل وساوس النشر البغيضة وآراء القراء وما أشبه.. كتيب من أربعين صفحة، وأنا أكره أن أضخم عدد كتبي هنا بأمثال هذه الصفحات التي هي ليست كتبا على الحقيقة ولكني وجدته مفيدا، ممتعا فأحببت أن أضيفه لرفوفي لا غير

[Emmanuel Ayeni]

Great book! Simple and concise. it sees the writer's art has a calling. Our is not to worry about the blog stats or the recognition. Our own is to show up and leave the rest to the Higher power that leads and guides us.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super short but I'm counting it anyway.

[Amanda Fanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational reading material! Whenever I need some writerly encouragement, I read this!

[Keri]

Excellent resource. I plan to reread soon.

[Yuu Sasih · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple book about how we should be as a writer; not to be published, not to be famous, but just for the sake of writing for ourselves and another person.

I like the idea. :)

[In-Genius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Goins has this clear and strong way of phrasing the essentials. I love this.

[Nermine Abdulhafiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief, Concise, and to the point! Will try to adopt its perspective...

[Светлана · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short, but encouraging.